Castellare di Castellina Chianti Classico 2004 Saturday, Jun 30 2007
Tasting Notes and Italy and Wines of the Month and Imported and Variety and Red and sangiovese et al
This is my second bottle of this wine. I think I might have consumed my previous bottle too quickly, so I gave this one a good decant. Though I must say that it is slightly disquietening opening a bottle of wine at 8 o’clock in the morning; at least there weren’t any brown paper bags in the vicinity.
A blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo. Quite a savoury and persuasive nose, with dark cherries and undergrowth, some leather and dusted cherries, fine clean earth and spices like oregano and savoury. The palate is savoury too, with cherry fruits and blacker fruits too, dry spices, fine and dusty tannins, and a charming acid spine. A wine with some depth of flavour, perfectly suited to the winter climate in Brisbane, and really everyone should have a few bottles of this in the cellar.
Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : Jun07
Alcohol : 13.0%
Price : $33
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2007 - 2014+
Source : Boccaccio Cellars
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June 30th, 2007 at 9:18 pm| Quote |
The 03 was the same. I’m surprised that a $33 Chianti Classico needed so much air. One for some ageing I think,
July 1st, 2007 at 2:16 am| Quote |
Good note. This wine really comes up after being open for 48 hours and showed real richness and complexity. The 2003 only took 24 hours to open up and to start strutting it’s stuff. This is an exceptional VFM label that should take a good few years in the cellar. I’m on for the ride.
July 1st, 2007 at 9:53 am| Quote |
Has anyone tried there Reserva? I have a few bottles of the 2001.
This wine needs hours in the decanter to really show you what it is capable of. The 2003 is exactly the same.
July 1st, 2007 at 10:02 am| Quote |
I am up for some of this too. I like the bird on the label mainly.
GW
July 1st, 2007 at 10:14 am| Quote |
Castellare wine labels show a different bird each year. The bird of the year is chosen among those who are threatened by extinction and this is a clear sign of the estate’s commitment in the care for the environment. As a matter of fact, herbicides and pesticides are not allowed in the cultivation neither is any kind of systemic chemical products. Both no hunting and this kind of cultivation have helped the return of lots of species of local fauna which once were more widespread in the area. The birds on Castellare’s labels symbolise Mr. Panerai commitment to environmentally sound cultivation. Herbicides are not used, nor are any systemic pesticides. Chemical treatment of any kind is shunned. Hunting is prohibited on the property. As a result of these practices over the 15 years of Mr. Panerai’s stewardship, the property has become a virtual refuge for wildlife, including many of the birds pictured on the labels.
July 1st, 2007 at 10:58 am| Quote |
Gary you would then have enjoyed the wine label that Zar brookes and Max Allen allegedley were responsible for releasing onto the market called the ‘Big black Coq’.
July 1st, 2007 at 11:02 am| Quote |
Max Allen needs to get some proofs reading his GT column..In the current issue he described 2005 Te Mata Coleraine as being a great introduction to late bottled vintage port! Ha ha
GW
July 1st, 2007 at 11:15 am| Quote |
Gee Anthony, and to think I just called BB a nerd
July 1st, 2007 at 8:57 pm| Quote |
This is a great wine. If you told me that this wine cost a 100 bucks I wouldn’t blink an eye.
July 1st, 2007 at 10:00 pm| Quote |
You may not blink but would you fork over $$$$ for 6 bottles? Esp with similar value wines like the Ravensworth reviewed earlier. I might add that the Ravensworth is not my style and I am the mug that paid $62 for a Bourgogne Blanc.
July 1st, 2007 at 10:05 pm| Quote |
David, if you are referring to the Ravensworth sangiovese here, I think it is a bit of a wonky comparison. I just had a bottle of the Ravensworth sangiovese at lunch, and while it was lovely wine and clearly sangiovese, I didn’t quite give me the full raft of dusty tannins, cherries, dried herbs and stonefruit kernel-type characters I look for in Italianate sangiovese. I don’t choose - I just buy both
July 1st, 2007 at 10:23 pm| Quote |
David,
No, I woulnd’t fork out $$$$ for 6 bottles, but I would buy more than 6 bottles at $33.
Campbell.
July 1st, 2007 at 10:26 pm| Quote |
i am buying a case
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:07 am| Quote |
Paul, I was just seeing how keen one is to spend $$$$ on wines of similar ratings and the fact that one was Sangiovese and the other a Shiraz Viog was irrelevant. Just don’t forget to get them out of the cellar. More about that later.
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:18 am| Quote |
They are different flavours..and for an import of this quality it represents top value. Man cannot live on Australian wine alone.
GW
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:05 am| Quote |
The bad news:
We have exhausted out stock of this wine for the moment with all orders being filled. There is another container due in two weeks and will post a note to say when it is back in. It has been one of our biggest selling chianti’s in the last couple of years.
The good news:
There is more coming. Jump back on the Castellere train and a couple of weeks
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:06 pm| Quote |
Fair enough David, I half-thought that was what you might have been getting at, re the Ravensworth comparison, but wasn’t quite sure. I checked the stash after all this chianti chat, and found I’d drunk almost all my Italian bottles (esp the sangiovese). I’m not sure the wine buying moratorium is compatible with working that out…